UAE Air Force plane detained in Kolkata airport

Kolkata, Sep 6: An aircraft belonging to the United Arab Emirates Air Force and its nine crew members were detained in Kolkata on Sunday night, Sep 6.

The plane was found carrying a large cache of arms and ammunition.

The plane, bound for Hanyang in China from Abu Dhabi, landed at the NSC Bose International airport in Kolkata for refuelling on Sunday night.

Airport sources said, "While conducting customary checking of the plane by customs officials it was found that a large cache of arms and ammunition were stockpiled inside the flight."

The airport authority of India was informed and as the plane's crew did not inform the authorities here that the aircraft was carrying arms, its return flight order was cancelled and nine crew members were detained.

Sources said that late in the night, a meeting was held with the airport authorities, customs officials, senior air force officers and the UAE crew about the entire matter.

Finally, permission was granted to the plane to resume its flight this morning, sources said.